4 Practical Ways to Deal With a Chilly Home This Winter

Like many people, you may dread winter’s arrival and know it’ll result in months of goosebumps and chattering teeth. It’s normal to have those kinds of bodily responses if you’re outdoors without a warm jacket, but they shouldn’t happen when you’re in the house.

Unfortunately, individuals often do realize they’re far too cold during the winter months, even when staying indoors. If you can relate, there are several ways you can take action to stay cozier.

Purchase a Thick Throw and Warm Loungewear

Improving your home is the most effective way to banish winter’s chill this year, but the apparel you choose also plays an important role. Buy a heavy throw or blanket to snuggle under as you watch TV or read a book.

Also, look for a warm bathrobe and slippers. Getting in the habit of drying off thoroughly after bathing and wearing those items right away could help you retain some of the warmth your body received due to a hot bath or steady shower spray.

Invest in Winter-Ready Curtains for Heat Retention Purposes

When sitting near a large window in the winter, you’ll often notice that the area immediately around it feels colder than the rest of the room. That’s because windows can be a major source of heat loss.

Conquer the problem by purchasing heavy curtains. They could effectively stop heat from escaping, especially if you only have single-glazed windows. The curtains only promote heat retention when they’re closed though. So, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of shutting the curtains when leaving a room, similarly to the way you turn off the lights in an empty space.

Find and Fix Drafty Areas

All homes have air leaks, and it’s important to locate the ones around your residence before winter weather arrives. Although it’s possible to hire a home energy specialist to perform a blower door test and find drafty parts of your house, you’re probably already aware of some of the most severely affected rooms or sections.

There are various ways to reduce drafts after finding them. For example, you might buy a draft stopper pillow that goes along the bottom of a door or get a door sweep that does the same thing. Weather strips are also convenient solutions. You can cut them to size and enjoy the welcome convenience of a peel-and-stick application method.

Get Your Heater Serviced Soon

A properly functioning home heater is arguably your most important defense against an uncomfortably cold home. Unfortunately, many people turn their heaters on for the season only when the temperatures drop enough to warrant it and don’t get the heating systems serviced beforehand.

Taking that approach is very risky, especially since the start of winter is probably the first time you’ve regularly used your heater for months. It’s also not a good idea to just assume everything is okay with your heater if it seems to be working correctly. Some issues aren’t detectable by average homeowners but are easy for professionals to spot.

Decide to contact a heating service technician soon. Remember that many other people in your area probably had the same idea about getting their heaters checked, so it’s not wise to delay making an appointment. Getting your heater tuned up before winter comes in full force will decrease the chances of future problems that result in total breakdowns and emergency service calls.

Plus, your heating specialist may also make a repair that keeps your energy bills down. In that case, you could pay less to heat your home this year without changing your usage habits.

Thanks to these four ideas, you can start making your home a warmer place today. Then, anticipate looking forward to winter instead of wanting it to end before it even comes.

Written by johnny